Rescinded Bulletins
Bulletin #20-01 - COVID-19 Emergency Guidance: Minimum Required Nursing Care Hours, Facility Licensing Extension. (March 31, 2020)
March 21, 2020 - In an effort to reduce regulatory burden for DMH Licensed Entities during the COVID-19 pandemic, but to assure continued adequacy and safety of Inpatient Facility milieu, we are issuing the following guidance:
DMH Licensing Bulletin #20-02 COVID-19 EMERGENCY GUIDANCE AUTHORIZING INDEPENDENT PRACTICE OF PSYCHIATRIC ADVANCED PRACTICE REGISTERED NURSES
April 3, 2020 - In an effort to reduce regulatory burden for DMH Licensed Entities during the COVID-19 pandemic, but to assure continued adequacy and safety of Inpatient Facility milieu, we are issuing the following guidance based upon the ORDER OF THE COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC HEALTH AUTHORIZING INDEPENDENT PRACTICE OF ADVANCED PRACTICE REGISTERED NURSES:
- DMH Licensing Bulletin #20-02
- Order of the Commissioner of Public Health Authorizing Expanded Practice by Advanced Practice Registered Nurses at DMH Facilities
DMH bulletin #20-05R - COVID-19 Infection Control and Other Requirements in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic
May 26, 2020 - This bulletin, and the attachments hereto are issued pursuant to Department of Mental Health (DMH) regulations 104 CMR 27.03(5)&(8), which provide that DMH “may establish clinical competencies and additional operational standards for care and treatment of patients admitted to facilities licensed pursuant to 104 CMR 27.00, including for specialty populations.”
- DMH Licensing Bulletin #20-05R - COVID-19 Infection Control and Other Requirements in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic
- DMH Licensing Bulletin #20-05R - COVID-19 Tier 1
- DMH Licensing Bulletin #20-05R - COVID-19 Tier 2
- DMH Licensing Bulletin #20-05R - COVID-19 Infection Control and Other Requirements in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic Attestation
- DMH Licensing Bulletin 20-05R Covid Daily Reporting Tool
DMH Licensing bulletin #20-03R - Admission and Treatment
May 1, 2020 - This bulletin concerns the admission and treatment of patients who are confirmed positive for COVID-19, or who are identified as Persons Under Investigation/presumed positive (Patients with COVID-19). It also addresses the use of isolation, seclusion and restraint for Patients with COVID-19 when such interventions are necessary to reduce the risk of exposure to the coronavirus. This bulletin applies to all inpatient Facilities licensed, operated or contracted by the Department of Mental Health (DMH).
DMH bulletin #20-06 - Resumption of DMH Facility Licensing Surveys
November 4, 2020 - In light of the current COVID-19 pandemic, this bulletin highlights current regulations and changes to orders extending the expiration dates of DMH Licenses. This bulletin applies to all inpatient Facilities licensed, operated or contracted by the Department of Mental Health (DMH). This bulletin rescinds portions of DMH Licensing Bulletin #20-01 as it relates to Facility Licensing Extensions.
Bulletin #21-01R - COVID Dedicated Units
February 12, 2021 - In light of the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, this bulletin highlights the potential need for facilities to stand up COVID-19 Dedicated Units for the admission of persons who require inpatient psychiatric treatment and also are in need of an environment able to meet the infection control needs of active COVID-19 infection. Such units are required to support behavioral health patients who are diagnosed with active COVID-19 infection that does not require inpatient medical treatment.
This bulletin announces a process for Tier 2 hospitals and some Tier 1 hospitals (see DMH Licensing Bulletin #20-05R for a full description of Tier 1 and Tier 2 hospitals) to develop COVID-19 Dedicated Units when the need exists for these units.
Bulletin #22-01R - Clinical Competencies/Operational Standards Related to Infection Control
The Massachusetts Department of Mental Health (DMH) continues to work with our state and local partners to address Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2, and we continue to appreciate the essential role you have in responding to this evolving situation. We recognize that providing care for individuals seeking inpatient psychiatric treatment who test positive for COVID-19 may prove to be especially challenging for mental health care practitioners and facilities. In consideration of continued increasing indicators of community transmission including emergence of the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV2, DMH is issuing this revised bulletin to licensed facilities for admitting and caring for patients with presumed or confirmed COVID-19 to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19. The information in this bulletin is intended to complement each hospital’s internal infection control expertise. Updated November 7, 2022.